The Arkansas House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a measure that would allow concealed guns to be carried in churches and houses of
worship, and the governor’s office says it plans to sign the bill.

The measure, which passed 85-8 on Monday, gives houses of worship the option of allowing concealed weapons.

Passed by the state Senate in an equally lopsided 28-4 vote last week, the bill states it is “immediately necessary for the preservation of the
public peace, health, and safety” because “personal security is increasingly important

ok, so let me get this straight to get your CC license you first must pass a background test and a skills test correct? So what is the big deal about
being able to take your firearm into a church or place of worship?

You're absolutely correct. You must pass the criminal background check and it goes much further in the process than the buy-check with NICS.

The reason Arkansas had to pass this (and Missouri has indicated they'll likely follow) is that up to now, Churches have been among the locations
forbidden to have CCW carry on the premises. Like a bar, school or gated amusement park.

This now lets the Pastor or Church leadership decide if THEY want to allow carry inside or perhaps just allow a few to carry as unpaid, volunteer
security of sorts. Plenty of people will likely pursue this in their individual houses of Worship and good for them to have the option.

I also DO agree with it being an OPTION for the Church and not a change in law to allow carry inside with or without the permission of the Church
itself. Up to now though? They couldn't allow it even if they wanted to. There have been a number of church shootings over the years where they were
ducks in a gallery because of this law.

You are correct it will now officially be legal to carry a fire arm into a church, but at least from where i am from you could bring one in legal or
not with the permission of the priest, pastor, rabbi, or what have you. I personally just dont understand why this is news, now when they open it up
in all locations to those who have passed the proper inspections and test that will be news but until then its just pissing in the wind, in my opinion
but at least it is a start down the right path.

Even back in the days of the wild west some form of gun control was eventually put into place out of necessity for the safety of its citizens against
drunken shootout brawls and such.

You had to check your firearms at the door before entering any public place, let alone a place of worship... In fact, most frontier towns made you
check your guns at the stables outside of town before you could even enter, only town sheriffs were allowed to carry firearms in public.

Ordinance No. 67 enacted August 14th 1882 specified that no one could “carry concealed or otherwise about his or her person, any pistol, bowie
knife, slung shot or other dangerous or deadly weapons, except County, City, or United Sates Officers” and raised the fine from twenty-five dollars
to one hundred dollars, no small amount in 1882.

The Dodge City Times declared: “There is a disposition to do away with the carrying of firearms, and we hope the feeling will become general. The
carrying of firearms is a barbarous custom, and it’s time the practice was broken up.”

Tombstone:

In 1881 the town council passed an ordinance prohibiting the carrying of weapons in the town limits:

Section 1: “It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person to carry deadly weapons, concealed or otherwise [except the same be carried openly
in sight, and in the hand] within the limits of the City of Tombstone.

Section 2: This prohibition does not extend to persons immediately leaving or entering the city, who, with good faith, and within reasonable time are
proceeding to deposit, or take from the place of deposit such deadly weapon.

Section 3: All fire-arms of every description, and bowie knives and dirks, are included within the prohibition of this ordinance.”

You are correct in the "wild wild west" people were required to leave there fire arms and weapons as they entered town, with that being said
criminals would still carry the weapons into town and when all hell would break lose the sheriff or marshal had every right and authority to shoot
said law breaker dead, correct? We as a society will not allow our law officials to have that right nor should we, but as criminals become more
daring and the crimes become more heinous why not give the people the right and privelage to protect themselves?

thank you and good day/night depending on your location in this universe.

Originally posted by rickymouse
I don't think people need guns in church. If anything have the minister carry one, that will keep the church goers on their toes during sermons.

This is doing the next best thing. It's allowing the Pastor or Minister to permit it, again, if they choose that it be allowed in their Sanctuary. If
not? Nothing has changed as I read this and as it was reported all over our local news last night.

The idea that only the Pastor or Minister be allowed to carry by LAW is absurd though. Does anyone really want to put their Pastor in the position of
taking life to save it? I KNOW some can and if forced, WILL. However, at what price to them? Here...they can, if they choose, tell ex-cops, military
or others that they are welcome to carry their weapons.

This wouldn't BE an issue if some whack jobs didn't make Churches a target for mass murder. It's been awhile so some seem to forget entirely that
it happens. It does though and when it does, it's beyond tragic. Arkansas didn't see the need to continue forcing Churches to be a safe working
environment for murderers. I say I can't wait for Missouri to follow suit with the exemption.

The measure, which passed 85-8 on Monday, gives houses of worship the option of allowing concealed weapons.

From my understanding, concealed weapons carry laws allow individuals to carry concealed weapons in public (some laws allow so without the need for
permits), the public include various places that may permit concealed weapons like churches. So I still don't understand what the point of this
was?

I'm looking up Arkansas concealed weapons laws now to see where churches were specifically excluded as places permitted to allow concealed carry
prior.

A license does not authorize any person to carry a concealed handgun into:

Any police station.
Any Arkansas Highway Police facility.
Any buildings of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, or onto any parking lots or grounds adjacent to such buildings.
Any detention facility, courthouse or courtroom.
Any portion of an establishment, except a restaurant, licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises.
Any school or college or event unless for the purpose of participating in an authorized firearms-related activity.
Any polling place, meeting of a governmental body, state office building, place of worship, airport terminal or where prohibited by federal
law.

Which is very interesting, as I assumed concealed weapons carry essentially granted you rights into even these areas. Considering that Arkansas is one
of those very conservative states, it's a surprise to me that they hold these exclusions.

Well good for Arkansas. I can't wait to see how this works out for them.

The first time a Minister is shot and killed they'll just up the ante and make it a law you have to carry a gun - can't come to church without a gun.
All the while thinking more guns is the answer to violence.

Our virtues are fading into distant history and being one by one - replaced with our vices.

It is a short hop and only a matter of time before they make it a law that people HAVE to carry one. Our problem is we have lost sight of and often
switched completely that which is simply allowed or permitted (but not desirable en mass) and that which is encouraged, fostered and actually
desirable because it makes your town a better place to live.

We have got rid of most of those things which should have been encouraged - music, art, libraries and gym practice and brought into the mainstream
that which was allowed only if someone insisted on doing it, i.e. guns, strip clubs, gambling. Those are the things that identify us now as a
country.

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